undeserving poor

noun

old-fashioned
: poor people who are thought to have bad moral character and do not deserve to be helped

Dictionary Entries Near undeserving poor

Cite this Entry

“Undeserving poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/undeserving%20poor. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!